Shocking Double Murder

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 84, 3 January 1888, Page 3

Shocking Double Murder

Melbourne, December 21. An atrocious double murder of wife and son was committed on Saturday morning at Tabba Yabba, a small place about twenty miles from Shepparton in this colony. The murderer, who is now believed to hare been insane, was Michael O'Shea, a farmer. The occurrence took place about seven o'clock in the morning. O'Shea took a single-barrelled Enfield rifle, withdrew the charge, and loaded it to make sure of carrying out his desire. He then shot his son, making a wound in his side large enough to put a man's fist in. Not satisfied with this, he then intended to beat him with the gun, but Mrs O'Shea interfered. The husband then went into the house and procuring a small sword gtabbed her twice. A wound in the abdomen has since proved fatal. The gon died at ten o'clock on Saturday morning. O'Shea after committing the deed changed his clothes and walked into Cashel township. The constable there had by this time gone out to O' Shea's farm, but the latter found his wife, whom he asked to lock him up and on his walking into the lock-up she turned the key in the door. Dr McKenna, who has examined O'Shea, sayp he is of unsound mind. The wedded life of the. o' Shea's was an exceedingly unhappy one. They were married in Ireland where Patrick the son, was born. O'Shea left his wife after repeatedly ill-treating her. They afterwards lived together again for three years, during which time another child was born, which died in infancy- After this Mrs O'Shea left her husband again. O'Shea has been tmthere a long time, and six years ago Mrs O'Shea, her son Pat and her feister also came out. During the voyage the sister di d, and Mrs O'Saea received _a. good deal of money 3eft by her, besides which she had means of her own. About three months ago the members of the family met and O'Shea induced the other two to come and live with him. It seems that h© did" no * tre^* *" 8 wife in a manner pleasing to the son, but he had the land transferred to his son, •nd the latter wanted to tura his fajtar oM * ne farm, . The two had a JflErel on Friday night and the oujfc--0om» was tbat on Saturday morning tfr£ii^id«* were committed.